Photodynamic therapy of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to reticular pattern dystrophy: three-year results of an uncontrolled, prospective case series.

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to reticular pattern dystrophy (RPD) of the retinal pigment epithelium.

DESIGN

Open-label, prospective, interventional case series.

METHODS

Thirteen eyes diagnosed with subfoveal CNV associated with RPD were considered. Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed at baseline and thereafter at three-month intervals for three years. Primary outcome measure was the number of eyes with <15 letters loss (approximately <3 lines) at 12, 24, and 36 months, compared with baseline. Secondary outcome measures included CNV progression and number of PDT sessions.

RESULTS

Seven eyes showed a decrease in best-corrected visual acuity of at least three lines at three-year examination. Each eye received a median number of treatments of two, zero, and zero in years one, two, and three, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PDT does not appear to guarantee long-term vision stabilization in RPD-related subfoveal CNV, and alternative therapies should be investigated.